Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi everyone,

I need an explaination in simple terms and the DVLA has been next to no help at all!

My van is being restored and has been at the garage for a while, it's now coming home It still needs some bits and pieces doing i.e. seats put in!!! This means it doesn't have an MOT yet. It also doesn't have tax (obviously as it was made in 1971!) and it has no SORN as it has been in a garage since 1980 and 'cos apparently "The scheme was introduced on 31 January 1998 and applies to vehicles where a licence was in force on or after that date"

Now the car's coming back I'd like to know if
a) the car can be parked on the road without it's MOT if I don't drive it (I assume not!)
b) do I need to do anything about Tax?

Perhaps I'm being stupid but I can't seem to work out the answers anywhere!
Thanks!!

If no Tax or MOT Can't be on Road full stop

Around here they are towing anything with tax even 1 month out.

I think if DVLA haven't heard about it since 1980 there is a possibility they think it's been scrapped and you may have fun registering it!
I'll admit this is stuff I heard from 'bloke in pub' but i'm sure someone here will have current knowledge.

Paulk

Mines SORNed but is in boxes at work

You absolutely can't park on the road without Road Tax.
AFAIK, officially you also need insurance to park a car on the road (being insured to drive someone elses car etc.. is not enough) - the car should be insured just to be parked on the road. I guess the reason is that the handbrake might fail and the car could cause damage. I've never heard of anyone getting done because of it though!

Regarding SORN - in theory you shouldn't have to do anything because it has been off the road since before the rules started.

What you should do is update the logbook to make sure you get a V5C (the V5 is nolonger valid). I have about 4 of those to do - I wish someone would keep reminding me...

My logbook is updated - that's about the only thing I'm sure is valid re documentation!!! That's partly why I was worried - now I've got a new logbook I did think DVLA might cross check their records and ask why I didn't have a SORN.
Thanks for your help - I thought it was implied from the DVLA that I didn't need to do anything but when I e-mailed them to ask the chap was horrified and said there was no way I could "do nothing" as that wasn't an option??!

So I'll park on my ma's drive until the MOT sorted (she'll be pleased!)

So I'll park on my ma's drive until the MOT sorted (she'll be pleased!)

If it's a nice drive, then don't forget to put a board underneath to catch the oily puddle...

Regarding the Oily puddle....

I've managed to reduce the oil drips from the engine, gearbox & rear axle.

For the engine, change the copper sealing ring. Then for all of them, very carefully clean the threads on the plugs and the matching holes. If it feels "gritty" when screing the plug in, take it apart & re-clean.

Ok, it's a bit of a pain, but I do seem to have reduced the drips a lot. - still can't help about the other areas of leaks....

Colin

Well a new sump gasket and rubber front and rear sump seals (instead of cork). New front timing chain cover gasket and front crank oil seal. New tappet chest cover gaskets and rocker cover gasket.

Those are the most common (fairly easy) gaskets to change, but if you clean the engine off and park it over a CLEAN wooden board then you can see where it's leaking from.

Paulk wrote:

If no Tax or MOT Can't be on Road full stop

There is one exception to this: A non taxed & MOT'd car can be legally driven on the road IF you are taking it for a pre-arranged MOT by a direct route to the examination station. The car however MUST be insured (and you should let the insurance company know that it has no tax & MOT). And if the car is in a dangerous condition you can of course still be prosecuted.....